C27/2003 National Office Issue of the 2004 Transport Concession Card (TC1) for New South Wales and Victoria

Purpose

This Departmental Instruction provides information on:

• the format and issuing of the 2004 TC1;
• procedures for applying for replacement cards and/or travel vouchers; and
• arrangements for ongoing daily issuing of TC1s.

Background

War widows/widowers who are not in receipt of service pension, income support supplement or social security age pension paid by DVA or Centrelink  are eligible to receive a TC1 if they live in the following states:

•   New South Wales;
•   Victoria (except World War 1 War widows/widowers); and
•   Western Australia.

The TC1 provides state funded travel concessions.

The Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania do not offer TC1 cards, however, war widows/widowers may still be eligible for concessions on travel through their DVA Gold Card or CSHC.

National Office Role

The National Office coordinates the bulk mail out of  TC1s for NSW and VIC.   The WA VAN office administers the TC1s for WA.

What has changed

• TC1s will now be issued ever year instead of every two years;
• The 2004 TC1s have the new DVA logo on the card and carrier;
• QLD travel vouchers are no longer issued;
• The name (up to 37 characters) and up to 4 lines of postal address (up to 38 characters each line) will be displayed  in upper case on the carrier;
• The VIC voucher and coupon will display the full name (up to 37 characters) in upper case and the file number including the suffix;
• The carrier will display the return State Office postal address for the active State;
• The 2004 VIC carrier will have only one coupon and one voucher, due to  the TC1s being issued every year instead of every 2 years;
• The first initial, second initial and surname (up to 25 characters) will be displayed in upper case on the card and up to 3 lines of residential address (up to 30 characters each line) will be displayed in upper and lower case;
• A blank line has been inserted after the residential address on the card;
• The word “File No:” is displayed adjacent to the client's file number on the card;
• The expiry date on the card is “DEC 2004”;
• Cards printed for clients with a group destination will be sent out with the bulk mailout.

Overview of exercise

The approximate number of the TC1 cards and carriers to be produced for the annual issue will be 17,678.  The state break down is as follows:

State

Annual Run

NSW

9,862

VIC

7,816

Total

17,678

Timetable

The following table provides a summary timetable of key dates in this year's TC1 process:

This Event

Is scheduled to occur

Data extract and matching with Centrelink

Friday, 31 October 2003

Bulk Printing of TC1s

5 – 7 November 2003

Lodgement with Australia Post

Monday, 10 November 2003

Inserts with TC1s

A state specific 2004 fridge magnet calendar will be inserted with the TC1s in the bulk mailout.

Distribution of TC1 blank stock for the Daily TC1s

Blank stock for the Daily TC1s were distributed to the NSW and VIC State Contact Officer on Wednesday, 15 October 2003.

State Offices are to begin using the new Daily stock on Monday,

3 November 2003.

Daily Issues and replacement cards and or vouchers/coupons

Local arrangements remain in force and the States Offices are to use discretion when issuing or replacing 2002-03 and 2004 cards and/or vouchers/coupons.

Report Problems to National Office

Staff are asked to keep a log of problems identified following the bulk issue of TC1s and to provide Kerry-Anne Rowe with full details.  Every endeavor will be made to rectify any identified problems.

Contact Officer

The contact officer for this exercise is Kerry-Anne Rowe on 02 6289 6663.